Tracy Morgan Undergoes Surgery, Remains In Critical Condition

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Photo courtesy of CBS News.

Tracy Morgan Undergoes Surgery, Remains In Critical Condition

Photo courtesy of CBS News.

CBS News – Tracy Morgan underwent surgery Sunday to repair a broken leg and is expected to remain in a New Jersey hospital for “several weeks” as he recovers from a deadly chain-reaction car crash, a spokesman for the actor-comedian said.

Morgan, 45, also suffered a broken nose and several broken ribs and remained in critical condition Sunday, spokesman Lewis Kay said.

“We expect him to remain in the hospital for several weeks. His family is tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans,” Kay staid in a statement.

The former “30 Rock” star and “Saturday Night Live” cast member was on his way home from a standup performance at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware when the Mercedes limo bus in which he was riding was struck by a big rig.

Two others who were in the limo, Jeffrey Millea, 36, of Shelton, Connecticut, and comedian Ardie Fuqua, 43, of Jersey City, New Jersey, were also in critical condition Sunday at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Comedian James McNair, known as “Jimmy Mack,” was killed in the crash. Another limo passenger, comic Harris Stanton, was treated and released.

Federal investigators were looking into commercial trucking and other safety issues following the accident.

A Wal-Mart truck driver from Georgia was charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. Authorities said Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, apparently failed to slow for traffic ahead early Saturday in Cranbury Township, New Jersey, and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash. Instead, his big rig smashed into the back of the limo bus, authorities said.

In all, six vehicles were involved in the pileup, but no one from the other cars was injured.

Tyrone Gale, who was driving the limo bus, told ABC News that he was disoriented after the vehicle flipped over and could hear Morgan yelling for help.

“I climbed around and heard Tracy screaming for help,” Gale said. “I climbed up on the body of the limo bus … but I couldn’t reach them.”

Roper, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to state police. He was released on $50,000 bail Saturday night and is expected to appear in court on Monday, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Roper has been placed on administrative leave from his job, Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said Sunday.

Wal-Mart President Bill Simon said in a statement that the company “will take full responsibility” if authorities determine its truck caused the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board is working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commercial trucking and limousine safety.

At a press event Saturday in Los Angeles to promote the upcoming comedy film “Think Like A Man Too,” cast members, many of whom have worked and are friends with Morgan, wished him well.

Kevin Hart said he owes much of his success to Morgan, crediting him for paving the way for comics like himself to become successful.

“We just want him to get better and to get back to everyone that loves him and get back to doing what he does best, making people laugh,” Hart said.

Fuqua’s mother, Doris, said she visited him in the hospital Saturday. The writer-comedian had toured with Morgan for nearly a year, she said, and had opened for him Friday night.

“We’re hoping for the best,” Doris Fuqua said Sunday, adding that she didn’t know how long he may be hospitalized. “It’s too early to tell.”

McNair, 62, of Peekskill, New York, was a close friend and mentor to Morgan, Morgan’s ex-wife, Sabina Morgan, told the New York Daily News. “He was one of the first comedians that took Tracy under his wing,” she said. “They were very close.”

Royale Watkins, a Los Angeles-based comedian who said he had performed in New York clubs with Morgan and McNair, described McNair as having a big personality.

“There may be guys like Tracy who get the fame and notoriety, but you have people like Jimmy Mack who have kind of energized and fueled cats like Tracy and kept them going on the road,” Watkins said.